Research

Overview

The Department of Pediatrics faculty conducts cutting-edge research across the entire breadth of pediatrics.

Our facilities, talented leadership, increased funding and new programs are working together to ensure the Department continues to make discoveries that will improve children’s health and will train the future pediatric investigators who will discover
tomorrow’s treatments and cures.

History: Research Discoveries and Milestones

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado and Children's Hospital Colorado has a long and proud history of major research accomplishments which include the following pediatric research discoveries and milestones:

Performing the first pediatric liver transplant in the world (1963)

First description of the medical consequences of child abuse (The Battered Child Syndrome) (early 1960s)

Participation in clinical trials leading to the licensure of new pediatric vaccines, including Haemophilus influenza and meningococcus (1970s)

The description of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) (1978)

The first statewide newborn screening program for cystic fibrosis in the U.S. (1983)

Discovering the effects of Zinc and Vitamin E nutritional deficiencies in infants and children (1983)

Description of Kawasaki Syndrome (1976) in the U.S. and clinical trials, leading to its successful treatment with IVIG (1990s)

Groundbreaking research in the treatment of hemophilia and blood-clotting disorders (1980s and 1990s)

Methods to save newborns with severe lung disorders, including the treatment of pediatric pulmonary hypertension by using a non-invasive method of inhaled nitric oxide (1992)

Pioneering pediatric AIDS research, as one of a handful of AIDS clinical trial groups in U.S. (1993)

The Cystic Fibrosis Center participated in early research and drug trials for Kalydeco, the first drug that treats the underlying causes of CF (2006)

The development and licensure of a new shingles vaccine (2006)

Strategic Plan

As a part of our strategic plan for research the Department of Pediatrics in collaboration with Children’s Hospital Colorado hired a Chief Research Officer and Director of the Children’s Hospital Colorado Research Institute, Dr. Frederick J. Suchy, who has bridged research efforts between the various departments within the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children’s Colorado.

Together we have developed new strengths in a number of focus areas through funding and aggressive recruiting.

The involvement and financial commitment of both the Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital Colorado towards the success of the Department’s strategic research plan has been, and will continue to be, key to our successes.

Anschutz Medical Campus

The Anschutz Medical Campus – which is the home to the University of Colorado Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and the University of Colorado School of Medicine – features state-of-the-art research laboratories and educational
tools that encourage new collaborations and interdisciplinary research teams. These facilities create opportunities for the Department of Pediatrics to expand on its reputation as one of the top academic pediatric departments in the nation.

As the umbrella organization for all research at Children’s Colorado, Children's Hospital Colorado Research Institute provides resources, oversight, funding, and expertise to new research programs at Children’s Colorado.

The mission of the CCTSI is to transform the current clinical and translational research and training efforts of all schools at the University of Colorado and affiliated institutions into an innovative, interdisciplinary, integrated, collaborative
campus and hospital-wide academic home for clinical and translational sciences, scientists and trainees.

The CCTSI was established in 2008 with a $76 million Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) from the NIH.

The CCTSI encourages and facilitates research and provides support through six major programs:

Discovery Translation

Community Translation

Education, Training and Career Development

Translational Informatics

Novel Methods and Technologies

Child and Maternal Health Research

As part of the CTSA grant, the former Adult General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at University of Colorado Hospital and the Children's Hospital Colorado CTRC – which were already being supported by the NIH – are now part of the Institute and have been transformed into a new network of Clinical Translational Research Centers (CTRCs).

Grants and Grants Management

With our Grants Program Director and Associate Grants Program Director, and five grant specialists positions, we have created an infrastructure that supports our growing research portfolio, as well as addresses the complex issues that are involved with
effective grants management.

Grants Program Director Jeanette Leeser is responsible for the overall program management and focus on strategic research needs for the future, as well as, the advancement of collaborative efforts.

Associate Grants Program Director Peggy Roddy​ is responsible for the day-today oversight and management of the team of grant specialists.

The five grant specialists are assigned to work with specific sections/principle investigators within the Department of Pediatrics.